GOSHEN COUNTY – As Goshen County recovers from one of the first major cold snaps of the winter season, the Torrington Volunteer Fire Department responded to a structure fire on Sunday, January …
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GOSHEN COUNTY – As Goshen County recovers from one of the first major cold snaps of the winter season, the Torrington Volunteer Fire Department responded to a structure fire on Sunday, January 19 around 6 p.m.
“We were paged out to a trailer house on fire on road 53d around 6 p.m.,” fire chief, Luis Correa explained. “The trailer was fully engulfed when we got there.”
The fire is still under investigation however according to Correa, whether or not the trailer was occupied at the time of the fire is unknown. Correa noted the property was often used as a rental home.
“According to the information that we had, it was an electric. The cause of ignition was listed as electrical,” Correa explained.
On Sunday evening, Torrington saw temperatures in the single digits without the windchill which has sparked the concern for heating homes safely.
“Space heaters are just, I mean, one of those things where they’re nice. I use them at my house, but make sure if you leave you shut it off,” Correa explained. “Just make sure you’re reading the warnings, you know. No extension cord, just make sure that you’ve got plenty of clearance.”
Correa noted the temperatures in Goshen County have been relatively mild.
“We haven’t had much of a winter yet. Just make sure that you’re getting the clearances that you need cleaning, making sure that you maintain your fireplaces, whatever. Check your electrical cords, make sure they’re not cut, or in a much different way,” Correa said.
Winter weather is also dangerous for responding firefighters and emergency personnel Correa explained.
“When we’re out like that, if we’re not pumping water, we have to recirculate the water, so it’s moving,” Correa explained. “You know, obviously it’s, a bit easier to keep your water from freezing if it’s constantly moving. Not only that, but slips, trips and falls for us.”
“I know we had a fire, well, it’s been a couple of years, where a guy slipped onto the ice and actually damaged one of the SCBA’s, the regulator was just, he just smashed his,” Correa said. “Our main focus when it’s that cold is freezing pumps, the water freezing, damaging stuff, would potentially take an engine or, in the apparatus that has a pump of water, out of service.”
Correa further explained the department had taken the large water tanker truck to the trailer house fire on Sunday.
“Last night we had, our tanker, which is our big semi-truck out there,” Correa said noting there was a lot of smoke seen in the area. “There was a lot, it was a lot, and, not only that but the steam after we started spraying water. When it’s cold enough, it starts to steam, and then it really becomes a guessing game, and not to really make sure that it is, in fact, steam and not smoke.”
“I guess we got back and got everything back and served about 9 p.m.,” Correa explained stating the department tended to the blaze for some time Sunday evening, “It seemed even longer when you’re out there, and then of course, you know, we had a hose line on each side of the trailer. It was kind of a water fight out there for a little bit. You’re standing there and somebody would spray you and spray them back a little bit. I mean, not on purpose, but.”
Correa noted residents in the area should keep their smoke and carbon dioxide detector batteries replaced and equipment maintained.
As of Tuesday morning, the National Weather Service meteorologists explained Goshen County has survived the cold snap and now faces the windchill however more winter weather is coming to the area but once again, the precipitation possibilities look minimal.
“It’s not looking like it right now but we still are anticipating quite chilly temperatures looking at high temperatures on Saturday potentially only in like the teens, lows in single digits. It’s kind of same for Sunday, maybe slightly warmer, maybe highs in the low 20s but still anticipating single-digit low temperatures,” meteorologist Shelby Fuller explained. “We are looking at the chance for potentially some snow with that but it looks like a pretty quick-moving system.”